By Frank MacekTime for another behind the scenes look at what's happening inside the WKYC Digital Broadcast Center.
The entire staff of Channel 3 just wrapped up a truly "September to Remember" as our whole world of daily news gathering and production changed dramatically with our switch from Avid I-News to the AP's ENPS and Bit Central's Precis and Oasis systems. We spent nearly 3 weeks in training and rehearsals to launch the new system which will allow us to share content across multi platforms from all our 23 Gannett stations. We'll cover this transition in a separate article later this week. But, all the training and planning paid off as we launched with just a couple of minor glitches. This is why your blogger has been so lax on posting lately.
September was another strong month of ratings for WKYC which continues to dominate local stations in the all important adult demographics. Channel 3 News at 6 & 11 PM and Channel 3 Weekend Today continued number one with Channel 3 News Today and Channel 3 News at 7 in second place. We are in the planning stages for the upcoming November sweeps period which, like May, help determine advertising ratings for the local market. We are looking forward to an interesting November.
Another new show is being added to our weekend lineup and is hosted by relationship coach, Kathy Dawson - a regular guest on "Golden Opportunities," and "Good Company Today." Her new show is called "Can You Relate?" and airs Saturday mornings at 6 a.m. Each week, the show which launched this weekend, will feature several different kinds of relationships: you and your mate, you and your kids, you and your doctor, you and your coworker. You name it – Kathy will talk about it! Your blogger was in the booth for the first broadcast taping and was impressed by the show. ”Can You Relate?” is fast becoming the go-to show for what you need to know to have the best relationships possible! Check out their new website: "Can You Relate?"
As you have probably seen, NBC will be undergoing several management changes when Comcast takes control of the network later this year. President and Chief Executive Officer Jeff Zucker will be out as Comcast Chief Operating Office Steve Burke will take the reigns and try to rebuild the struggling network. We feel the Comcast/NBC merger will be a good one for the future of our NBC affiliation, as clearly, a new way of thinking was needed at the top. Comcast and NBC's commitment to sports programming will be unparalleled.
We are also hearing strong rumblings that CBS Evening News Anchor Katie Couric may be returning to NBC's "Today Show" to replace Meredith Vieira who is expected to depart the number one morning show soon. Couric previously hosted the show from 1991 to 2006 and has been unable to help CBS move their evening news program out of 3rd place.
Finally later this month, Channel 3 will again be connecting to the community be helping northeast Ohioans help members of their community who are in need of food and monetary assistance as the economy continues to make it rough for many of our neighbors and friends. We'll have the specific details and locations of this year's food drive in the next week or so.
As always, please don't forget to become a friend of Channel 3 News and Channel 3 Weather. We have special on-line content just for our Facebook friends including your chance to be our "Facebook Friend of the Day," daily behind the scenes promos, sneak peeks at NBC shows, a daily programming guide of what's on Channel 3 and much more.
